New Delhi: The government has set up a one-man committee to investigate Walmart's lobbying activities in India in recent years, after a controversy erupted over the American firm's disclosures to the US Senate that it spent around $25 million since 2008 on lobbying that included enhancing 'market access for investment' in India.

The Cabinet approved the appointment of a single-member panel to probe the issue on Thursday. According to an official communique, the committee has been asked to submit its report within three months.

The scope of the probe includes checking if Walmart undertook any activities in India in violation of any local laws and verifying the disclosures made by the global retailer before the US Senate regarding their lobbying activities and details.

Sharma assured McMillon that India's policy on foreign direct investment ( FDI) in multi-brand retail has finality and they need not be unduly concerned about any policy reversal. All necessary clarity will be provided to Walmart, the minister stressed in Davos.

The winter session of Parliament, which concluded last month, had witnessed noisy scenes over the issue of allowing foreign investment in multi-brand retail. Though the government managed to stave off the Opposition's efforts to put the issue to a vote through some deft floor management, Walmart's disclosures to the US Senate about its lobbying expenses in India led to a fresh furore.

The government had assured the House at the time that a judicial probe will be conducted to ascertain the facts. "We will be working to provide the authorities with relevant information," a Walmart spokesperson had said in December.

Though it couldn't be ascertained who would be in charge of this single-member committee, officials indicated a retired Supreme Court judge or a high court chief justice could be appointed to steer the probe.